I was there once...Durango...back in the 70s. I always wanted to go back and ride the RR to Silverton but never made it so far. Maybe some day...I hope.

Presidential car is best car. That is actual coal smoke and it burns... it burns. Being far away is worth the extra $50 or so. Plus the back porch is awesome.

Thanks for the tip. I'll remember that. XD

What a beautiful setting. I didn't know there was a narrow gauge steam train still running on the Silverton and Durango. I'll have to check that out.

Tourist attraction rather than a working railroad. In 1980 the railroad petitioned to abandon the tracks since it was struggling as an actual railroad. State of Colorado said hell no. Instead, a wealthy couple bought the railroad and turned it into a tourist attraction.

I really like it when things turn out like that. If it hadn't been for the history enthusiasts and Tourism, The Jeremiah O'Brian Liberty ship, and the Red Oak Victory would possibly still be rusting away in Suisun bay, or night had been "Turned into razor blades."

We have been there but missed the train as my mother, who was with us, could not wake up before ten AM at her best (late seventies then) and the trains leaves very early in the day. It is very beautiful around that area, but Wolf Creek Pass is a break killer, 10.5 grade, no pull off except 18 wheeler emergency roads until nearly the bottom. Maybe we can make it again and actually catch the train.

You can drive or take the bus to Silverton then ride the train back to Durango. The train leaves there at 1:30 PM. I drove from Durango, passed by Telluride then drove on to Montrose. Will never do that again. wolf Creek Pass was navigated in the rain in second gear. Google Maps is full of lies...